A corruption case has been filed against 15 people, including immediate past additional secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population Sangita Kaushal Mishra. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed the case in the Special Court on Sunday, seeking compensation of Rs140.68 million.

CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel said the case also names Dr Shravan Kumar Thapa, then director of the Management Division; Surendra Kumar Chaurasiyaa, head of the Supply Management Division; and Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director of the Department of Health Services.

Others named include former chief accountant Bhuwan Prasad Kafle, legal officer Sita Ghimire, senior public health officer Deepak Adhikari, section officer Yadav Prasad Sapkota, accounting officer Shambhu Prasad Dhakal, accountant Tilak Ram Dhakal, biomedical engineer Ashish Chauhan, former biomedical engineer Padma Mishra, public health inspector Sanjay Kumar Sah, and Maxim Incorporation Traders Pvt Ltd chief Sundar Bhusal.

Each defendant has been asked to pay Rs140.68 million in compensation. They are accused of irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment.

Mishra, had resigned from her additional secretary post, as she was picked as a candidate for health minister under the interim government led by Sushila Karki. However, her appointment was halted after the corruption investigation came to light.

She previously served as chief of Koshi Hospital and Thapathali Maternity Hospital and as director general of the Department of Health Services. She is now under investigation for alleged irregularities in medical equipment procurement during her tenure as director general at the department.